The Buttery, Golden Ground Cover Flowers That Couldn't Be Easier To Grow

Sometimes you want a plant that looks like it took a lot of effort, but in reality, couldn't be simpler to grow. If you're looking for a plant that will bloom with bright color in the spring and then have attractive foliage for the rest of the growing season, yellow alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis) might be right for you. This ground cover provides sunny, golden flowers just as winter is fading away. Also known as basket-of-gold, this woody-rooted perennial originates from central Europe to Turkey and forms a mat of foliage, reaching a height of 6 to 12 inches.

Yellow alyssum's low-growing, spreading habit makes it perfect for covering rocky areas, slopes, or filling in the gaps between pavers. The plant's display of bright yellow flowers in early to mid-spring is its main appeal, but its gray-green foliage provides lasting visual interest even when the plant isn't flowering. This plant is hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 7, and its tolerance for dry conditions and resistance to deer make it an ideal choice for gardeners who want to enjoy bright yellow flowers in early spring from a low maintenance plant that is happy to do its own thing.

To get the most out of yellow alyssum, it's important to plant it in the right conditions. This perennial thrives in full sun, needing at least six hours of sunlight each day to produce its beautiful flowers. It's also well-suited to dry, rocky areas, so it grows well when it's planted on top of a stone wall where it can spill over the edge.

The key to its happiness is well-draining soil. Yellow alyssum is not a fan of wet feet, and soil that keeps too much moisture, like heavy clay, will most likely cause root rot. If your soil is dense, you can easily improve its drainage by adding sand. Once the plants are established, they become quite drought-tolerant, making them an excellent option to include in areas with other types of drought-tolerant ground cover where you don't want to worry about watering them every day. They are typically available at plant nurseries in the spring, and you should space them 12 to 18 inches apart to allow them room to spread and grow.

While yellow alyssum is an easy-to-grow plant, a little attention goes a long way to keep it looking its best. As a plant you should prune in the spring, the most important thing you can do for it is a simple trimming after its first blooming period. By cutting the plant back by about half, you encourage new growth and help it maintain its characteristic mounding form. The post-bloom trim also prevents the plant from going to seed, which redirects its energy toward a new round of blooms.

While it doesn't need constant fertilization, a light application of fertilizer after the first round of blooms in the spring can keep it in good shape. Another thing to keep in mind is that yellow alyssum often struggles in hot, humid summers, and may die back in those conditions. If you live in an area with very high temperatures, it could be best to treat it as an annual by replanting each year.